St Etheldreda's Church, Medieval church building in Ely Place, London, England
St Etheldreda's Church is a medieval building in Ely Place within the London Borough of Camden that now serves a Catholic congregation. The two-level structure holds a main chapel on the upper floor and a crypt below, both featuring tall pointed windows and stone columns.
Built around 1300, the site served as the private chapel within the London residence of the Bishops of Ely. After 1873, it passed into other hands and now functions as a Catholic place of worship.
The annual Blessing of the Throats ceremony draws worshippers who light candles and receive blessings near the altar during February. Visitors notice how this tradition connects the building's medieval roots with the practices of modern Catholics who gather here regularly.
The building holds regular services and welcomes visitors outside Mass times when no ceremonies are underway. Its small scale and quiet setting allow an unhurried visit where you can examine the architecture closely.
This structure is one of only two surviving buildings from the reign of King Edward I still standing in London. That rarity makes it a direct witness to late 13th-century architecture in the capital.
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